Articles of interest from the Fairfax County Park Authority

Tag Archives: Fitness

A ceremony marking the official reopening of Oak Marr RECenter was held Saturday, October 18, 2014. View photos from the event.

UPDATE: September 12, 2014

Thanks for attending the open house! Here are some photos from the event.

UPDATE: September 4, 2014

Open House Slated for Saturday, September 6, 2014

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The fitness expansion project is complete and the RECenter is open today! Come experience your new facility at an open house this Saturday (9/6) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. After a year of construction, we are excited to showcase the facility and what Oak Marr has to offer. General admission will be free all day!

Watch this video to see what patrons are saying about the new facilities.

June 3, 2014

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Staff members are buzzing about the changes we’re seeing at Oak Marr RECenter. With each passing day the year-long project takes another step toward completion. We are excited to share the improvements with our customers who have been waiting patiently for the RECenter to reopen.

The building’s new glass façade now protrudes into the old parking lot, and customers are taking notice. Everyone seems to agree that the building looks great, and many people are curious about what amenities are being added. In case you haven’t heard, Oak Marr is undergoing more than your average building makeover; the RECenter is being transformed into one of the area’s most modern fitness facility.

But the question on everyone’s mind is, “When will it be finished?” The answer is: soon. A grand opening will be held this fall to mark the occasion, and everyone is invited to join in the celebration.

Manager Kirt Chase said, “For the past 12 months we have been watching our new expansion being built from the ground up, and now that we are getting close to completion we are excited to see the public’s reaction to our new state-of-the-art facility.”

Program Director Robert Arguinzoni is excited about the enhanced space for dance, gymnastics, and tot programs this fall. “It will allow us to introduce new levels of classes that kids and parents have been looking forward to since construction began last spring,” Arguinzoni said. He is also sure parents will love the new childcare room adding, “It will be a wonderful option for parents who are looking for time to work out and not have to worry about making other arrangements for child care.”

Aquatics Supervisor Nicole Marko said the physical changes have been surreal. “I have been at Oak Marr for so long – starting in 1999 as an adapted aquatics volunteer – having taught as a part-time swim instructor 2001-2005 and then full-time since February 2007. I have seen its evolution in customers, program offerings and even paint colors. It’s interesting to see the new integrated with the old. But we all look forward to replacing the constant sounds of banging and drilling with the sounds of treadmills and ellipticals!”

Fitness Director Jennifer Elgas is thrilled about the new fitness center and is happy to be part of the exciting changes. She said, “I am anxious for it to open and am most excited to see everyone’s reactions to it, as well as being able to serve more members with our variety of state-of-the-art equipment.”

Oak Marr has seen significant transformations since opening in 1988, but none as sweeping as the expansion of the fitness center. We look forward to presenting Oakton area residents with this top-tier fitness facility. In the meantime, stop by and see the changes for yourself. Then join us for the grand opening this fall!

We can’t wait to see you!

This post will be updated with new information and photographs as the project nears completion. Check back often to see what’s new!

Seniors exercise and catch up with friends during a water aerobics for arthritis class at South Run RECenter.

Oh, we all have our aches and pains, our pacemakers, joint replacements and health problems but they seem less significant when we are there together. Besides, none of us is particularly stunning in a bathing suit at this point in our lives anyway.

Marge says to me, “Why don’t you write a story about us, George? We’re a unique group.” Indeed, I guess we are. We are the ten o’clock water aerobics arthritis class at South Run Park. Of course, far from all of us are in that class because we suffer with arthritis. I mean, when you are a senior, who wants to rush to get up and get to a class at 8 or 9 in the morning? Coffee and the newspaper are much more fun until you can get your body going, and we all agree that it takes longer and longer for that to happen. Oh, we all have our aches and pains, our pacemakers, joint replacements and health problems but they seem less significant when we are there together. Besides, none of us is particularly stunning in a bathing suit at this point in our lives anyway.

The first task of the day is counting the men. Are there four or five of us today? Maybe six. Where is Joe? Haven’t seen Dave since last week. We have a new guy. One day we are going to outnumber the women. Bill, the lead counter, is 89. If only I could live to 89, I should do half as well as he. Bill is an amazing gent. He travels all over the United States visiting family, makes several annual trips to Florida on the auto train and is in a perpetually positive and humorous state of mind.

There are scores of interesting folks, Anna, who talks frequently of her sick cat, and though in her 80s leaves class and invites all of us to meet her and friends at McDonalds for lunch every day, who says McDonalds appeals only to young folks? Sam, who says he is trying to overcome 45 years of inactivity, May, always with tales of the wild kindergarten grandchild and those teachers who reminisce about their experiences in the classroom. Politics is outlawed and that is good for all of us.

Don’t get the idea that water aerobics is not serious business, it is. However, first we need to find out what Pete has planted in his garden, how tall the corn is, if there are any signs of tomatoes yet. How Shirley’s and Fred’s trip across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary went. Who is reading what book and will they share it when they finished and a dozen or so other equally important things.

In a fifty-five minute class surely there is time for a little bit of chatter before, Carolyn, the instructor says, “If all you are going to do is talk, then move to the back corner.” All gets quickly quiet for a few moments and we attempt to follow the instructions all the while amazed at Carolyn’s energy level and how easily she can move her body in ways that most of us couldn’t even twenty years ago. She is patient with us as she yells out, “Watch your posture, stand up tall, you’re leaning.” Or our favorite, “faster, faster.” I am always certain that I am the only one that is leaning forward. But I know I am not the one going slow.

After about twenty-five minutes we grab our noodles and ride them like we did our pretend ponies when we were little kids. What fun! Who can paddle without their legs touching the bottom of the pool, who touches and who cheats doing a combination of both. On occasion, we take the noodle in one hand and swing it wildly in the air making certain that as we do it splashes the water periodically so someone will complain they are getting their hair wet. Of course we stretch the noodle in every possible uncomfortable position.

In the end, Carolyn wishes us well and tells us that we are finished for the day. Whew! We are tired but it is time for our reward. Out of the pool, we grab towels and rush to the hot tub to finish our conversations, relax, check on everyone’s weekend, children, and grandchildren and just soak in the warm water. It seems that we have plenty to say. We bid our farewells and then it is off to our own activities until Monday, Wednesday or Friday, whichever one is next.

Thinking about us, I am reminded of the quote from Margery Williams “Velveteen Rabbit”: “When someone really loves you, then you become real. Generally by the time you are real most of your hair has been loved off, your eyes droop and you get loose in the joints. But once you are real it lasts forever.” A collection of grandmas and grandpas, we are about as real as it gets and in spite of our lack of hair and loose joints, we can always count on having a really good time.

Editor’s note: Fairfax was recently named the healthiest county in Virginia in a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, and Community Catalyst.

What does it mean to be your own health advocate? A simple definition is to be proactive about your health and to make a conscious effort to improve and/or maintain good health. As Monica Philips, Fitness and Wellness manager, states, “The most important asset that an individual has is his or her health. Yes, you’ll invest time to learn and live a healthy lifestyle, but the returns are priceless.”

By educating yourself about health topics and staying up-to-date about current health issues, you will be one step closer to becoming your own health advocate. Join the Park Authority’s free Take 12 Steps for Health program to receive health information each month. Each month there is a new health theme, tips to keep you motivated, and a calendar of free monthly workshops on different health topics.

According to Elizabeth Ittner, Fitness & Wellness Program coordinator for the Fairfax County Park Authority, “Our free workshops span a variety of topics including nutrition, water consciousness, stress, anxiety, fatigue, back pain, as well as grocery store tours and wellness screenings.”

Committing to becoming and staying healthy for life is the next step. You can eat smarter and healthier, buy local and organic foods, start your own garden, develop an exercise routine, sign up for a new fitness class, increase your water intake, or train for a race, such as the first annual Healthy Strides Community Race at Burke Lake Park on April 28, 2012. Depending on your fitness level, you can choose a 5K or 10K, and kids can start healthy habits by participating in a Fun Run.

Finally, community involvement and volunteering play a role in becoming a health advocate. Take 12’s theme for September is “Serve your Community as a Volunteer.” You’ll receive tips on volunteering and how to find grass-roots projects, such as becoming a mentor, creating pieces of art, serving meals, or planting a community garden to build strong and vibrant neighborhoods.

The important thing is to start becoming your own health advocate today. Visit Take 12 online to learn how.

Written by Tina Tuliszka, George Mason University graduate student and Fitness and Wellness Section intern